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Interesting Theories and Facts About Stonehenge and Its Mysteries

Found in Salisbury Plain, England, the Stonehenge is an iconic prehistoric monument that continues to mystify even the most renowned archeologists and researchers today.

What may seem like just a bunch of stacked rocks may hold powerful secrets and information about our past.

Stonehenge (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For one thing, archaeologists believe that the Stonehenge was created roughly around 3,000 BC to 1,800 BC. Since the Stonehenge is a man-made monument, it baffles experts on just how could our ancestors have built such difficult pillars with very limited tools and knowledge.

Even until today, nobody really knows how exactly the Stonehenge was built, who built it and what it signifies. Despite the lack of precise data, there are a couple of Stonehenge theories that suggest a lot about the monument. Concrete evidences back up some theories while there are other theories that are a bit far out.

Below we have a list of the most interesting Stonehenge facts and theories.

Folktales that were told hundreds of years ago to children and adults alike were once considered theories regarding the construction of Stonehenge.

There is a certain folktale that mentions Merlin as the creator of the Stonehenge. Merlin is a legendary wizard who was a main character in the legend of Arthur.

It is said that Merlin was responsible for the creation of the Stonehenge. He had a giant work for him to carry the large stones all the way from Mount Killaraus, Ireland.

Other Merlin stories say that he transported the Stonehenge to England to serve as a proper burial place for the dead kings and princes of Britain.

A Temple for the Romans
John Webb, a famous architect, strongly believed that the Stonehenge was actually created by the Romans. The monument was supposedly built to become a temple in honor of the Roman god of sky, Coelus. On the other hand Dr. Walter Charlton strongly disagreed with Webb’s theory, claiming that the Danish, who arrived after the Romans, are actually the ones responsible for the erection of the Stonehenge.

Researchers today have disproved both theories. It has been recently discovered that the Stonehenge was actually built before the Romans or Danish arrived in Britain.

The Druid Theory

The 1905 mass initiation ritual held by the Ancient Order of Druids at Stonehenge.

John Aubrey is the first person to ever make an academic effort to solve the Stonehenge mystery.

In 1640 he surveyed the structure carefully to create his theory. According to his studies on how the Stonehenge was created, druids are the ones responsible. These Druids were members of priestly groups or classes in Ireland, Britain and France.

Aubrey’s theory also had strong evidence that he himself has discovered. Thanks to his precise drawings and measurements of the Stonehenge, he was able to conclude that the placement of the stones was largely influenced by a calendrical or astronomical role.

Although it was John Aubrey who first created the Druid Theory, it was Dr. William Stukeley who made the theory so popular, which is why many people have mistaken Stukeley as the main creator of the theory. William Stukely was an antiquarian and physician in the 18th century who strongly believed in the Stonehenge theory of John Aubrey.

Ancient Cemetery
Cremated remains have been discovered near the Stonehenge, which lead many archeologists and scientists to believe that the Stonehenge was built to become a ceremonial burial site. Some archeologists believe that only notable people were buried near the Stonehenge. This makes the ancient cemetery theory connected with the folklore about Merlin.

A Center For Healing
After closely examining of the remains that were found near the Stonehenge, archaeologists have discovered that some of the remains did not belong to people who are native to the area where the Stonehenge is located. The remains also showed evidences of disease and physical injury.

According to a number of archeologists, the Stonehenge actually stood as a symbol and center for healing, a place where people from far corners of the island came to have their injuries or illnesses treated.

On the other hand, Mike Parker Pearson believed that the Stonehenge was actually a symbol of union. History tells us of the long war between the eastern and western side of Britain. After the two sides have decided to stop fighting, they created the Stonehenge to symbolize their unity.

Astronomical Observatory and an Eclipse Predictor
Even today, there plenty of different interpretations of the evidence and arguments about the Stonehenge and its true purpose. Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer first introduced the astronomical observatory theory.

Lockyer was an astronomer and a very famous scientist back in the days. While Lockyer was the one who originally introduced the possibility of this theory, it wasn’t until after 50 years when evidences that linked the Stonehenge to astronomical activities were found. An astronomer named Gerald Hawkins discovered several points and areas in the Stonehenge that could predict equinoxes, solstices and even eclipses.

Aliens Are the Ones To Blame

A plan of stonehenge, looking an awful like an “alien” crop circle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Alien Theory is probably one of the most famous Stonehenge theories. In fact, we’ve blamed our extra-terrestrial neighbors for just about every strange and unexplainable landmark, like crop circles (which turned out to be hoaxes).

However the alien theory isn’t just a mere hypothesis spun by locals or ET-enthusiasts. Geologists who studied the Stonehenge believe that the rocks that make up the Stonehenge came from Preseli Hills of Wales. Mind you, Preseli Hills is roughly around 135 miles away from where the Stonehenge stands today.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that moving all those large rocks would require god-like strength. This leaves archaeologists, since no one has found evidence that our ancestors had the tools to do the heavy lifting required. Since no one could really explain how the stones got there, it gave rise to the alien theory.